Best Alternative to the Straightening Iron

Saely Beauty Salon

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That effortlessly silky hair so many Asian women possess? News flash: It ain't always natural. Many of these women—including myself—actually undergo an intense chemical process every six months that permanently straightens all new hair growth. The Japanese thermal straightening method was introduced to stateside salons several years ago, but stylists here still charge clients upward of $500 for the service. Enter our savior, Saely Oh. She owns Saely Beauty Salon, a tiny space hidden in an Aurora Avenue strip mall that charges just $120–$250 (depending on hair length) for the popular process. Oh doesn't speak much English and a majority of the clientele are Asian immigrants, but the atmosphere is welcoming to all. (Fabulous hair is, after all, a universal value.) Just be sure to book an appointment in advance. Oh is the sole hairdresser on most days, and even a miracle worker can only do so much at once.—Erika Hobart